SA to get two deputy presidents?

The presidency on Sunday said it was unaware of reported talks about the country getting two deputy presidents after this year's elections.

“I'm not aware of any such discussion,” presidency spokesman Mac Maharaj said.

The Sunday Times reported that discussions had been held within the African National Congress to promote the idea of a second deputy president. ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC national chairwoman Baleka Mbete had been proposed as the two candidates.

Mbete told the newspaper that she had accepted nomination to become a Member of Parliament, but said it was up to the ANC to decide where to deploy her.

“It is not a matter up to me. Branches of the ANC decide on people going to Parliament. What happens after that we don't know.”

Ramaphosa told the Sunday Times he would not comment on his political future.

“The ANC decides. No single individual in the ANC decides what they want to do.”

As it stands, the Constitution only allows for one deputy president. Constitutional law expert Prof George Devenish said a constitutional amendment would have to be approved to change this provision.

ANC spokesmen Jackson Mthembu and Ishmael Mnisi were not immediately available to comment. - Sapa